Disposable holder for smoker&#39;s articles



Sept. 6, 1966 J, J. DORRANCE DISPOSABLE HOLDER FOR SMOKER'S ARTICLESFiled Feb. 18, 1964 11 'ITORNIFYS United States Patent 3,270,752DISPOSABLE HOLDER FOR SMOKERS ARTICLES Joseph J. Dorrance, 401 N. WabashAve., Chicago, Ill. Filed Feb. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 345,635 6 Claims. (Cl.131-240) The present invention relates to improvements in disposableholders for smokers articles and more particularly to an ash tray and adisposable holder structure.

Ash trays having fixed cigarette and cigar holders are hard to keepclean and often become discolored in the holder portions where smoke andtar stains, crusted ashes, and the like, soil the same.

It is, accordingly, an important object of the present invention toprovide a new and improved smokers article supporting structure which isreadily cleaned by discarding and replacing an inexpensive disposablemember.

Another object of the invention is to provide a disposable, low costsmokers article support for ash trays and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination ash trayand disposable smokers article sup- .port.

.which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank for a disposable smokers articlesupport embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a combination ash tray and the blankof FIGURE 1 folded up to provide a disposable'support;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional detail view takensubstantially on the line III-III of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a modified form of the disposable supportblank; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of another modified form of the holder orsupport blank.

As shown in FIGURE 1, a disposable smokers article support 5 comprises apreferably originally flat panel of suitable thickness or gauge materialsuch as cardboard, synthetic plastic, thin sheet metal such as aluminum,and the like, affording a low cost blank which may be readily diestamped from sheet or strip stock. The material should be as thin as maypractically be used, for the sake of economy, but should be possessed ofsubstantial compression resistance in its plane, with a fair degree ofresilience or spring back capability so that when bent along score linesit will tend normally to spring back toward the original plane of theblank.

In a desirable form, the holder blank is rectangular in outline withrespective scorings 7 thereacross equally spaced from opposite edges todelineate respective end flanges 8. Parallel to the scorings 7,centrally across the blank 5 is another scoring 9 which divides the areabetweenthe scorings 7 into body panels 10.

At least one smokers article-receiving notch 11 is provided by lancingor partially severing material equally from a longitudinal areaextending over both of the body panel sections 10. In this instance, twoof the smokers article-receiving notches 11 have been shown, and theremay be additional such notches, if desired, in a wider disposableholder.

As will be observed, each of the notches 11 is of maximum width at thecentral scoring 9 providing, in the fiat, a slot which tapers to anarrower dimension at each opposite end of the slot. The differential inwidth is predetermined by the type of smokers article to beaccommodated, that shown being related to the width of a 3,270,752Patented Sept. 6, 1966 conventional cigarette. For cigars ofconventional diameter a greater maximum width would be indicated. Ifdesired, therefore, article-receiving notches of different selectedwidths to accommodate both cigars and cigarettes may be provided on thesame holder, and such a modification is self-evident. At its greatestwidth, the article-receiving notch 11 is preferably slightly greaterthan the normal diameter of the article to be accommodated while at itsnarrowest, the notch is slightly narrower than such diameter. Bysevering only along longitudinal lines in forming the article-receivingnotches 11, and thus only partially severing the material between theseverance lines, the partially severed material provides intermediatelyscored tongue strips 12 which at their opposite ends are joined to therespective body panel sections 10 along score lines 13.

In the flat lanced and scored blank form, a substantial stacked pack-ofthe holders 5 may be packaged for distribution and sales purposes.

In use, the disposable holder 5 is folded up along the score lines 7 and9 substantially as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, with the flanges 8extending oppositely generally coplanar and the body sections 10 foldedclosely toward one another. Thereby the flanges 8 provide a base forsupporting the folded body in upright position.

Desirably, the erected disposable holder 5 is mounted on an ash tray 14which may have a central pedestal 15 providing a flat crown of about thesame size as the area covered by the base flanges 8. On this pedestalthe flanges 8 are engaged by retaining means which in a simple formcomprise respective retaining flanges 17 mounted to overlie the crownplatform of the pedestal 15 and defining therebetween a gap sufficientto clear the upstanding folded body. In the form shown, the retainingflanges 17 are formed from suitable relatively rigid sheet material suchas sheet metal having anchoring means such as underturned respectiveflanges 18 secured on or in the pedestal 15 and thereby supporting thehold-down flanges 17 in substantially fixed relation over the crownplatform and in sufficiently spaced relation thereabove to receive thebase flanges 8 slidably between the retaining flanges and the crownplatform.

To facilitate slidable assembly of the base flanges 8 into positionbetween the retaining flanges 17 and the crown platform of the pedestal115, the retaining flanges 17 are spaced from the underlying crownplatform surface to a slightly greater extent than the thickness of therespective flanges 8. In an efficient arrangement, one or both side edgeportions flare upwardly at a divergent angle to the platform surface indihedral angle relation to a depressed frictional retaining rib 19substantially at the center of the retaining flanges and which willeffect at least a slight frictional grip on the respective engaged baseflanges or panels 8 to retain the holder 5 against unintentionaldisplacement but adapted to be overcome with moderate relative manualeffort to displace the holder for replacement. Further, to facilitatemounting of the holder 5, the retaining flanges 17 at least at one sidebut preferably at both sides are slightly narrower than the width of theplatform surface of the standard 15 to enable convenient placing of theside margins of the flange panels 8 onto the portion of the platformextending beyond the sides of the retaining flanges to orient the panelsfor sliding insertion into place under the retaining flanges.

By reason of the resilient flexibility of the material of the holder -5and tendency to spring back from a folded or bent condition toward theflat condition along the bending hinges afforded by the scorings 7 and9, the base portions of the holder are thrust into frictional retaininginterengagement with the flanges 17 and the underlying base platformsurfaces. Thus, the body panel sections 10 of the holder tend to expandand the base flange panels 8 to spring up on their free ends..

Clearance for receiving a smokers article such as a cigarette C in oneof the notches 11 is afforded by bending the respective folded tongue 12outwardly, substantially as shown in FIGURE 2. Through this arrangement,the bent out tongue 12 serves as an upwardly and outwardly extendingrest having its tip spaced from the upstanding holder body and againstwhich the smokers article can lie for support against tilting out of thenotch 11 between the downwardly converging edges of which the article isfrictionally gripped at its sides.

When the holder 5 has become soiled and unsightly or even possiblyscorched, it can be readily separated from the supporting ash tray andreplaced.

Instead of retaining the material severed in providing thearticle-receiving notches in the holder as tongue rests 12, the materialwithin the notches may be entirely struck out to provide open slots 11as shown in the modification of FIGURE 4. Otherwise, this form of theinvention may be substantially the same as that already described, withthe blank of the holder 5 having the parallel scorings 7' and 9 dividingit into the base flanges 8 and foldable body panel sections 10'. Theholder 5 may then be utilized in the same manner as the holder 5.

For convenient use of the holder 5 or 5' by itself and independently ofan ash tray having the special retaining flange structure of the ashtray 14, means may be provided on the holder itself for retaining it inthe erected folded up condition thereof. One convenient form of suchmeans comprises spots or stripes of self-adhering, pressure sensitiveadhesive applied as for example along the margins of the panel sections10 contiguous to the scorings 7' and on those faces of the body panelsections which oppose one another in the folded up condition. Thereby,on folding the body panels 10' toward one another the opposing adhesiveareas 20' will adhesively interengage and retain the erected conditionof the holder.

If the holder 5 is to be used in assembly with the ash tray 14, it maybe folded to have the body panel sections 10' back-to-back with thefaces thereof opposite the adhesive 20. Thereby the adhesive will be onthe outside of the folded holder and the body panel structure sectionswill be free to spring apart for frictional interengagement with thesupporting structure of the tray.

In FIGURE 5 is shown another embodiment 5" of the holder also desirablycomprising a flanged panel structure also adapted to be economically diecut and scored from flat sheet or strip stock. In this form, however,only a single body panel section 10 is provided having on one end atleast a pair of base panels 8" attached thereto on a bendable hingescore line 7" and separated along a severance line 21 extending fromtheir free ends to the score line 7". Thereby, the base flanges can bebent or folded out in respectively opposite directions to support thebody panel section 10" upright. At least one smokers article-receivingand supporting slot or notch 11" with downwardly tapering side edgesopens from the upper end of the body section 10" and may have a bendabletongue 12" attached at the bottom of the notch on a bendable score line13".

It will be understod that other modifications and variations may beeffected Without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of thepresent invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A disposable smokers article holder comprising:

an upright Ibody panel structure having therein an upwardly openingarticle-receiving notch, base means on the lower end of said body panelstructure af- "-'f0rding a stable base on which said body panelstructure is maintained in upright position, and

a tongue of substantially the same outline as said notch,

severed at its sides from, and being of the same material as, the panelstructure and unsevered at its lower end from the panel structure in thebottom of said notch and bendable adjacent to its unsevered connectionsto the panel structure from a position substantially in the plane ofsaid panel structure into a notch-opening position extending laterallyfrom said panel structure, thereby to provide a supplementary rest for asmokers article engaged in said notch and extending therefrom intooverlying relation to said tongue.

2. A disposable smokers article blank which is adapted to be assembledwith an ash tray and comprising:

a panel of generally rectangular outline;

parallel scorings adjacent opposite edges of the panel and definingmarginal flanges including said edges;

a score line parallel to said scorings and centrally between the same,dividing the area between said scorings into a pair of congruentfoldable body panel sections;

and said blank having at least one smokers article notch extendingacross said score line and within said panel sections, said panelsections being foldable toward one another and the marginal flangesbeing bendable into oppositely projecting relation angularly to saidsections whereby to provide a base supporting said folded body panelsections upright With the article-receiving notch at the upper endportion thereof, said blank having material partially severed therefromin forming the notch and providing a tongue having its opposite endshingedly connected to said sections adjacent to said scorings, saidtongue having substantially the same outline dimensions as said notchand having portions foldable toward one another at said score line, toprovide a tongue which is bendable out of the notch on said hingeconnection to open the notch, whereby the tongue then extends laterallyfrom the notch to provide a rest for a smokers article engaged in thenotch.

3. An article blank as defined in claim 2, in which said tonguecomprises the same material as said sections and having its oppositeends in unsevered integral connection with said sections.

4. A smokers article supporting device comprising:

a receptacle having an upwardly extending panel structure therein, saidpanel structure having an upwardly opening notch extending downwardlythrough its upper edge;

a tongue of the same material as said panel structure havingsubstantially the same outline dimensions as said notch and having alower end integrally joined to the panel structure in the bottom of saidnotch;

said tongue extending from its juncture with the panel structureupwardly and laterally from the panel structure and being adapted toreceive thereon in supporting relation a smokers article which isengaged in said notch and extends from the notch into overlying relationto said tongue.

5. A smokers article supporting assembly comprising:

a supporting tray member having an upwardly facing supporting planarsurface and a pair of retaining flanges in fixed relation on the memberand projecting toward one another over said sunface in a substantiallyhorizontal direction and having tips which are disposed in limitedopposed spaced relation to one another; and

a replaceable holder comprising an upwardly extending body panelstructure having along its lower edge respectively oppositely extendingbase flanges engaged under said retaining flanges with said body panelstructure extending upwardly in the space between said tips;

each of said retaining flanges having a portion, located substantiallyat the center thereof, and divergent side portions which are inclinedfrom said central portion and away from said surface to a height whichis greater than the thickness of said panel structure 5 6 flanges toassist in insertion of said panel flanges, References Cited by theExaminer whereby to enable ready sliding assembly of said UNITED STATESPATENTS panel flanges between said retaining flanges and said R 183,2517/1958 Evans Surface; 5 1,897,672 2/1933 Neumann. said central portionsbearing downwardly against the 1 902 014 3 1933. Campbell 131. 24()panel flanges and frictionally clamping them against 2,068,513 1/ 19-37Reimer 131-42135 said surface. 3,092,501 6/1963 Beck et a1. 6. Anassembly as defined in claim 5, in which said FOREIGN PATENTS centralportions comprise respective ribs in said retain- 10 448168 6/1936 GreatBritain ing flanges extending to the tips of the retaining flanges andrelative to which said side portions extend in di- SAMUEL KOREN, PrimaryExaminer.

hedral angle relation- J. s. REICH, Examiner.

2. A DISPOSABLE SMOKER''S ARTICLE BLANK WHICH IS ADAPTED TO BE ASSEMBLEDWITH AN ASH TRAY AND COMPRISING: A PANEL OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAROUTLINE; PARALLEL SCORINGS ADAJCENT OPPOSITE EDGES OF THE PANEL ANDDEFINING MARGINAL FLANGES INCLUDING SAID EDGES; A SCORE LINE PARALLEL TOSAID SCORINGS AND CENTRALLY BETWEEN THE SAME, DIVIDING THE AREA BETWEENSAID SCORINGS INTO A PAIR OF CONGRUENT FOLDABLE BODY PANEL SECTIONS; ANDSAID BLANK HAVING AT LEAST ONE SMOKER''S ARTICLE NOTCH EXTENDING ACROSSSAID SCORE LINE AND WITHIN SAID PANEL SECTIONS, SAID PANEL SECTIONSBEING FOLDABLE TOWARD ONE ANOTHER AND THE MARGINAL FLANGES BEINGBENDABLE INTO OPPOSITELY PROJECTING RELATION ANGULARLY TO SAID SECTIONSWHEREBY TO PROVIDE A BASE SUPPORTING SAID FOLDED BODY PANEL SECTIONSUPRIGHT WITH THE ARTICLE-RECEIVING NOTCH AT THE UPPER END PORTIONTHEREOF, SAID BLANK HAVING MATERIAL PARTIALLY SEVERED THEREFROM INFORMING THE NOTCH AND PROVIDING A TONGUE HAVING ITS OPPOSITE ENDSHINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID SECTIONS ADJACENT TO SAID SCORINGS, SAIDTONGUE HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME OUTLINE DIMENSIONS AS SAID NOTCHAND HAVING PORTIONS FOLDABLE TOWARD ONE ANOTHER AT SAID SCORE LINE, TOPROVIDE TO TONGUE WHICH IS BENDABLE OUT OF THE NOTCH ON SAID HINGECONNECTION TO OPEN THE NOTCH, WHEREBY THE TONGUE THEN EXTENDS LATERALLYFROM THE NOTCH TO PROVIDE A REST FOR A SMOKER''S ARTICLE ENGAGED IN THENOTCH.